• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
WRAP

WRAP

Western Regional Advocacy Project

  • Donate Now
  • Get Email Updates
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
    • 40 Years of Fighting
    • History
    • Mission
    • Strategy
    • Members
    • Board / Staff
  • Campaigns
    • Business Improvement Districts
    • House Keys Not Sweeps
    • Homeless Bill of Rights
    • Oregon Right To Rest
    • Without Housing
    • Street Outreach
  • Organizing Tools
    • Without Housing Organizing Toolkit
    • Homeless Bill of Rights Campaign Manual
    • WRAP Organizers Manual
    • WRAP Artwork
  • Resources
    • Art in Action Power Point Slide Show
    • Hobos to Street People
    • House Keys Book
    • Political Education
    • Legal Research
  • Media
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
    • Hobos to Street People Art Show
    • Street Newspapers
    • Sweeps Gallery Videos
    • Videos
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Become a Monthly Sustainer
    • Volunteer
    • Support WRAP
    • WRAP Newsletters & Updates Sign Up

The BID, the Bad, and the Ugly: No BID in Rochester, NY

February 17, 2023 by Jonathan Leave a Comment

Learn more about the fight against the Rochester BID at www.nobidroc.com 

The Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC) attempted to create a BID in Rochester in 2014. It was rejected by City leaders and small businesses. Recently, RDDC again started to quietly lobby for the creation of their BID. Despite considerable pushback including a petition, survey and public outcry, City Council approved RDDC’s desire to start planning a BID. 

If they are successful, the RDDC will expand into the Rochester Downtown Partnership (RDP). The RDP will be able to tax every property in the district and spend those funds in their own interests, with little oversight or recourse from the community. BIDs are extremely difficult to get rid of once in place. Progressive communities throughout the US are trying to claw back power from BIDs and undo the harm they’ve caused. In Rochester, activists, small business owners, community groups, and artists are joining together to demand transparency and educate our community.

Join us for a virtual panel discussion about the fallout of BIDs across the country, featuring experts and activists from three cities: Saturday, February 18th 12pm EST / 9am PST

Register for the zoom webinar now!

But first.. What’s going on with the proposed BID in Rochester?

A Business Improvement District (or “BID”) is a designated area of a community that has a board. This board is granted powers by City Council. These powers were entrusted to City Council by you, the voter. The Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC) has access to nearly $5,000,000 in public and private funding to “Show what a BID can do!” and get City Council to vote for its creation. The RDDC hid from the press and focused the public and Council’s attention on artwashed projects and events to distract the community from learning that:

  • A BID is able to levy additional taxes (up to 20% more) on properties within its boundaries, collected on top of other city property taxes.
  • The BID Board, made of a majority of property owners, gets to decide how and where to use those public funds for additional services in public spaces, like private security “ambassadors”, sanitation, infrastructure “improvements”, marketing, economic development, and events. 

Our community is still working through the trauma caused by racist housing policies and systematic disinvestment. Make no mistake, this is 21st century redlining. There is room for thoughtful development without displacement, but this BID is inherently undemocratic and is a dangerous power grab. Just because it is codified into New York State law doesn’t make it right. We cannot allow this Business Improvement District to pass, we need to nip this BID in the bud!

RDDC uses art-washing to push forward the BID

The arts community has been sounding the alarm since May of 2022, when the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation put out a call for artists to create window displays that must be “positive in nature.” These displays would “enhance vibrancy” and allow RDDC to demonstrate the potential improvements that a “Business Improvement District” could bring to downtown Rochester.

Roc Arts United City Committee and an extended coalition of working artists strongly opposes the RDDC’s attempt to co-opt the arts to push this anti-democratic power grab by downtown property owners.  

Putting up positive window decorations to “show what the BID can do” is a cynical attempt to distract from what a Business Improvement District would actually do: Hand decision making powers for downtown Rochester to a secretive entity that does not have to obey the Freedom of Information Act or pay any attention to city residents who are not wealthy landowners.

The arts community quietly objected when RDDC first came out with the window display artist call, suggesting instead that RDDC direct funding to arts groups that have expertise and experience in arts programming. RDDC leadership largely ignored and minimized the community’s pushback, went ahead with their plans, causing the art community to take their concerns public. The project has now been postponed twice, but RDDC still doesn’t seem to have gotten the full picture. Rather than respecting and supporting what is already happening in Rochester, they are now contorting themselves into a pseudo-arts council in order to justify the creation of a Business Improvement District. Based upon their willful ignorance of the wants and needs of the arts community, it is clear the RDDC should not be entrusted with arts funding or management.  

Despite decades of disinvestment, Rochester is flush with artists and capable arts organizations. Their work is constantly highlighted in presentations and promotions by the City, area businesses and organizations. Imagine what our artists could create if we gave them the financial support and credit they deserve? Freedom of expression and creativity drive vitality. Directly funding to our arts community will give a far greater return on our investment. The arts community must be represented by an accountable and transparent organization of their own creation. 

For these reasons, a letter opposing the BID, was delivered to Rochester City Council; cosigned by 50 artists, from 3 generations. The letter received an additional 800 signatures in support.

Rochester City Council Deliberates

On August 11, 2022, Rochester City Council held their first public hearing on the proposed downtown BID. However, much of the public was left out.

The cameras were pulled from the public forum, even though it was advertised as a meeting that could be streamed online. To make matters worse, a constituent was denied ADA access to an ASL interpreter. All blatant attempts to shut out public participation. 

Constituents pleaded to reschedule the meeting. Despite this, Councilmember Michael Patterson, chair of the Neighborhood and Business Development Committee, pushed through and held the event anyway. In doing so he denied the community access to critical information.

All members of council were present at the hearing. They witnessed testimony from constituents documenting their need for more time, information, equity, and accountability. They had copies of this community survey information at their desks:

A selection of comments from the over 40 “Additional Comments” collected through 8/10/22:

  • Our government should not be giving up its power to corporate interest groups. We need more transparency, not less. And should be giving more power to the citizens and not corporations. 
  • I’m very concerned about the privatization of city area/decision making.
  • The BID would serve to concentrate wealth and power to business owners and not Rochester Residents. I do not think it is a safe path for moving forward for city residents. 
  • Stop these rich land monopolizers and get their slimy hands out of our pockets. They can afford to front their own money for any project they want to do. 
  • This ridiculous project is 21st century redlining. The new tax levy will price residents out of the area and the tax revenue will fund cops (private and city) to crack down on the marginalized. Disgusting all the way around.
  • Fuck RDDC.

***

On Tuesday, August 16th, 2022 Rochester City Council pushed through legislation without community consent that sets the community well on the path towards the creation of a BID.

Learn more about the fight against the Rochester BID at www.nobidroc.com 

Filed Under: #housekeysnothandcuffs, BID, ESD, Newsletter

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Footer

Instagram Feed

FOR MORE INFORMARTION VISIT US AT: http://wraphome FOR MORE INFORMARTION VISIT US AT: http://wraphome.org/developmentdirector
WRAP is hiring a full-time Development Director with at least 2 years of non-profit fundraising management experience. WRAP supports our core members, allies, and others by providing organizing tools and research for each to use in their campaigns fighting the criminalization of houselessness and for affordable housing. We are helping to build a regional /national movement �together and strengthen �connections of WRAP’s priorities with broader anti- racism, classism, neo-liberal capitalism, and criminalization campaigns.
Register here tinyurl.com/Mumia-film for Thursday Register here tinyurl.com/Mumia-film for Thursday night’s online screening of this moving, informative, personal, important, and artfully-made film. Cast includes Cornel West, Angela Davis, Dick Gregory, Alice Walker, Ruben ‘Hurricane’ Carter, and Amy Goodman.
Forty years ago, the federal government slashed af Forty years ago, the federal government slashed affordable housing budgets of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), marking the beginning of the contemporary crisis of homelessness. https://conta.cc/3k4mDpA
Theatre of the POOR presents CRUSHING WHEELCHAIRS Theatre of the POOR presents CRUSHING WHEELCHAIRS 
Sunday 2/12/23 4pm San Francisco 2948 16th St.
Sunday 2/26/23 4pm Oakland 1540 Broadway 
For more information poormag@gmail.com
One of the questions we asked people we love about One of the questions we asked people we love about this continuing forty-year process of addressing the root causes of homelessness in America was recognizing that our comrade Paul has also been fighting this neoliberal bullshit for forty years. In earlier emails people spoke about the importance of WRAP. Here is what some of our friends had to say about Paul’s role over the last forty years. https://conta.cc/3vbUnUx
Next Thursday, the 22nd, at 11am we are having a p Next Thursday, the 22nd, at 11am we are having a press conference as the preliminary hearings begin and need all our allies to show up and call for justice! https://conta.cc/3FyNtgH
A lot of work done addressing oppressions across t A lot of work done addressing oppressions across the country takes place in courtrooms and legislative bodies. This work is not always successful due to the fact that the oppressors are the ones making the laws. But we know you can’t fight a system if you don’t know the ins and outs of how that system works.  https://conta.cc/3VQrVDl
Join the next Public Works Committee Meeting to re Join the next Public Works Committee Meeting to reject the “safe work zone” ordinance that aims to further criminalize unhoused people and their advocates during sweeps.
Monday, 12/12 at 10:30am
bit.ly/oakmtg-1212
Let's Celebrate Chucho Let's Celebrate Chucho
We are raising $40,000 for WRAP’s vital work at We are raising $40,000 for WRAP’s vital work at this 40-year mark, and all donations will be matched up to $20,000 in November and December! Contribute $40, $400, $4,000 to help make sure that mass homelessness is not around another 40 years. https://conta.cc/3VAWHQ8
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Facebook Icon

Facebook Feed

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Link thumbnail

Some Push Back Against Tiny Homes for Homeless People Site in San Jose

www.nbcbayarea.com

California plans to build 1,200 small homes across the state to help house homeless people, but that has some people in San Jose pushing bac...
4 days ago
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Twitter Icon

Twitter Feed

Unable to load Tweets

Follow

YouTube icon

Youtube Code

Our Channel

Copyright © 2023 Western Regional Advocacy Project WRAP · Log in